Combined milk can and bottle opener



July 28, 1936.

w. F. HARRIS 3 2,049,116

COMBINED MILK CAN AND BOTTLE OPENER I Filed July 22, 1935 at entesi July28, 1936 STA This invention relates to combination tools, and moreparticularly to a combined milk can and bottle opener.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple,inexpensive and thoroughly efficient device of this character which maybe used for conveniently removing the caps from bottles and forpuncturing the lids or covers of milk cans to permit the discharge ofthe contents thereof.

A further object oi the invention is to provide a household tool orimplement including a flat bar adapted to rest on, the top of a can andhaving spaced spurs depending therefrom and so disposed with respect toeach other as to permit the puncturing of the lids of milk cans oidifierent sizes without requiring any adjustment of the spurs to engagea particular size can. A further object is to position the intermediatespur at one side of the center of the tool and in longitudinal alinementwith the terminal spurs whereby said intermediate spur will coact withone or the other of the terminal spurs according to the diameter of thelid of the can to be punctured. Q

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve thisclass of devicesso'as to increase their utility, durability, andefiiciency.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and inwhich similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in allthe figures of the drawing,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a combination household implementconstructed in accordance with the present invention showing the toolpuncturing the top of a relatively small milk can.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the position of the tool whenpuncturing a large milk can.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line t-t of Figure2.

The improved household implement forming the subject-matter of thepresent invention comprises a flat longitudinally disposed bar 5preferably formed of steel and having its opposite ends extendedlaterally at 6 and provided with openings I into which project flanges 8for removing caps from bottles and the like.

5 The metal constituting'thebar 5 is cut to form substantially V-shapedincisions 9 and the metal between said incisions pressed downwardly toform depending terminal and intermediate puncturing spurs l0 and IIhaving their side 55 edges sharpened at I2 and terminating in points l3adapted to enter the top of a can It and form openings therein to permitthe discharge of the contents of the can. The spurs l0 and II aredisposed in longitudinal alinement with each the terminal spurs I!) topuncture the top of a Q 7 milk can of one size, as best shown in Figure1 of the drawing, while the intermediate spur will coact with the otherterminal spur to puncture the lid'oi a milk can of a larger size, asbes't shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The puncturing spurs are soarranged that when positioned on either a small or large can, the spurswill enter the top. of the can close to the side walls thereof, as'clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing, so that when the toolis removed 20 and the can tilted, one of the punctures in the can willact as a vent and the other as a discharge opening and permit the milkto flow directly over the edge of the can and not collect on the lid.When the punctures are formed in 25. the center of the lid, the milk hasa tendency to collect on the lid around the openings and attract fliesand other insects, which unsanitary feature is entirely eliminated withthe present invention. 30 When it is desired .to open or puncture asmall can of milk, the tool is positioned on the top of the can with theintermediate spur II and one of the terminal spurs Ill pressing againstthe top. A slight downward pressure is then exerted on the 35 flat uppersurface of the bar which causes the spurs to enter the lid of the canand puncture the same. If it is desired to open a larger can, theposition of the tool is reversed and said tool placed on the top of thecan with the interme- 40 dlate spur coasting with the other terminalspur ID, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, after which a slightpressure is exerted on the top of thebar to eflect the puncturing of thetop of the can in the manner previously stated. If it is 45 desired toopen abottle, either end of the tool may be positioned over the cap ofthe bottle with the adjacent lip 8 extending beneath the flange of thecap, when, by exerting a slight upward pressure on the bar, the cap maybe readily removed from the'neck of the bottle. Either of the openings 1may be used for suspending the tool from a nail or other suitablesupport when not in use.

By arranging the puncturing spurs in the mannet described, the tool maybe used for opening or puncturing milk cans of diii'erent sizes withoutthe necessity of adjusting the spurs to fit any particular size can,thereby permitting the device to be used rapidly and conveniently whenthe occasion requires.

The tools may be made in diiterent sizes and shapes and nickeled,Japanned, or otherwise coated or ornamented to give them a neat andattractive appearance.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A tool of the class described comprising a flat longitudinally disposedreversible bar adapted to rest on the top of a can and provided withoppositely disposed hand grips. said bar being provided between saidhand grips with V-shaped incisions and the material between theincisions pressed downwardly to form depending termi- 1nlal andintermediate puncturing spurs disposed spaced at uneven distances apartwhereby when the bar is in one position the intermediate spur will coactwith one of the terminal spurs to puncture a can of one size and whenthe position or the bar is reversed said intermediate spur will coactwith another terminal spur to puncture a can of a different size.

WILLIAMF. HARRIS.

longitudinal alinement with each other and

